God Watching Over
The Substitute Bride by Carrie Fancett Pagels is a perfectly delightful novella set in 1890’s Shepherd, Michigan. It is a wonderful read for a cold winter’s day.
Sonja is the last remaining unmarried daughter, whom her father has threatened to turn out by Christmas if she remains unwed. Sonja has no intention of marrying just anyone and is seeking employment elsewhere when an unusual opportunity arises.
Louis Penwell spent a miserable year in his young life in the poor farm in Shepherd. He has no intention of ever returning there again. However his railroad employers have other plans. The novella shows how important it is to remain obedient to God and to listen for His voice in life. Louis’s father was saved at the church in Shepherd so there are good and bad memories associated with the town. The story shows how our earthly fathers may disappoint us and let us down but God never will.
A major theme is that of taking care of the poor. The poor farm in the novella is similar to the work house in England where only the very poor and destitute go. The person in charge is a dreadful penny pinching woman. The poor are badly treated but Sonja has a heart for them. She is prepared to risk her health and her reputation to be God’s hands and feet to the poor.
God is always looking out for us. The novel reveals that even if we don’t see Him, hear Him or recognise Him, God is still there, working on our behalf. Once our eyes are opened to Him, He becomes visible in past events, the present and one will know His hand is on our future.
Forgiveness is another theme within The Substitute Bride. When bad things happen, it is tempting to withhold forgiveness, however we will suffer. Until forgiveness happens, one is forever trapped in the past with no hope of moving forwards. Forgiveness must be given in order to release the chains of the past.
I really enjoyed The Substitute Bride and eagerly devoured it. Carrie Fancett Pagels novels are always delightful and heart warming. She writes in such a way that the novels come alive in my head and I live through the action.
Give yourself a treat and download The Substitute Bride today.
JULIA WILSON
Thanks so much, Julia!!! I love how you really understand what I am trying to convey in my stories!!! One thing that got me thinking about using a Poor House in my story was when I googled for information on my name and found a little girl by my middle and maiden names who’d been on the roll of a Poor House in London in the 1800s! That really hurt my heart! And later discovering we had Poor Houses or County Farms in America, I thought they probably weren’t that much different than England and although there are differences they still weren’t pleasant places. Residents were referred to as “inmates” in Michigan! Blessings!
Oh dear, Carrie, that poor little girl 🙁 Poor houses were the very last resort in England. Families were split up and once in, it was hard to get out. Thank goodness we don’t have them today. XX